Wrecking car



Dec. 26, 1933 v, w. JOHNSON WRECKING CAR 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 16 Dec. 26, 1933. v. W.'JOHNSON 1,941,400

WRECKING CAR I Filed March 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 q By E flllomey Dec. 26, 1933. v,'w. JOHNSON WRECKING CAR Filed March 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor 752 /2022 k/ a/iizsan/ q By M 40/69 Dec. 26, 1933. v. w. JOHNSON 1,941,400

4 WRECKING CAR Filed March 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnvenlor Patented Dec. 26, 1933 'UN Teo'sTArEs PATENT orr csi i 1,941,400 WREoKINGoAR Vernon W. Johnson, -WilkeseBarre, Pa. Application March 16, 1932. Serial No. 599,310 7 t I zoiaims. (o1. 2s0-s3.4)

This invention relates to a wrecking car, the general object of the invention being to provide a device for removing wrecked vehicles of all kinds from the highways, ditches, streams and other places as well as for hauling largebodies of variouskinds. 7 i

Another objectof the invention is to provide a device with two bodies, the lower one of which is equipped with wheels, with means for adjusting one body longitudinally with respect to the other body so as to place the load in the most desirable position relative to the wheels for facilitating hauling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal coupling for connecting the device. to the pulling body or vehicle and to provide means for adjusting the point of connection on the front part of the device withthe draw bar.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out inthe appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation with the parts in one position in full lines and'in another position in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 6. v

Fig. 9 is'an end view of the coupling pin.

4 Fig. 10 is a sectional View showing the means for adjusting the draw bar member to the front of the body.

In these views, the letter A indicates the body of the device which is supported on theaxle 1 which carries the wheels 2, said body being pro vided with the tenders or guards 3 for the wheels.

An elongated auxiliary body B is slidably supported on the main body A and this body. B is provided with the upstanding flanges or side forming portions 4 so that this body B is of channel shape in cross section. A nut'member 5 is attached to the rear part of the underside of the main body A to receive a screw shaft 6 which has its rear end rotatably supported in a cross beam 6' at the rear end of the body B so that by rotating other low place.

this shaft, the-two bodies A and 13 an be adjusted relatively to each other. This shaft can heretated in any desired manner.

A yoke-shaped draw bar member 7 has the ends of its limbs pivoted to the front part of the body 30 B as shown at 8 and the limbs pass throughthe in the limbs'of the 'draw member 7 to hold the draw. bar member in adjusted position in the members 9.

At the front end of the draw member, the side parts thereof are parallel. and are connected to- 7 gether by the cross pieces 11 and a block 12 fits in the space formed by said side parts'and cross pieces and has recesses 13 in its sides for receiving the said side portions and bumper blocks 14 fitin recesses in the ends of this block 12 and engage the cross pieces 11. I

The bolt 15"passes vertically thru the block and hasfa spherical head 16 at its lower end fitting in a spherical recess 1'7 in a block 18 fastened to a part 19 of the pulling vehicle. A plate 20 is fastened to the upper face of the block 18' and'has a hole therein fitting aroundthe spherical head 16 to hold the same in the recess.

A drum 21 is rotatably supported in the front part of the body B and may be rotated in any suitable manner and it is desired to have one end of a cable attached thereto. A guiding pulley for the cable is shown at 22 and is'carried by a shaft 23 journalled in the brackets on the under side of the front part of the body B and said pulley passes through an opening 24 formed in said part of the body.

A second guiding pulley for the cable is shown at 25 and is supported on a vertically arranged stub shaft 26 at the rear end of the body B and which shaft is preferably so attached to the body that it can be removed whenever desired.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a wrecker of low build and one which can be tilted, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 so that wrecked vehicles and other large bodies can be easily placed thereon even when in a ditch or The screw shaft can be used for changing the position of the two bodies relative to each other as shown in the horizontal dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that the center of gravity of the load carried by the device can be placed at'the most favorable position to facilitate travel, loading and unloading.

The drum .and pulleys may be used with a cable to facilitate both loading and unloading, for raising and lowering a load, etc.

The draw block assembly absorbs shock or thrust or pull on its downward movement, and the manner of attaching the block to the part 19 of the pulling vehicle, provides a flexible selfadjusting pivoting joint and the adjusting means for the draw bar member enables the parts to be adjusted relative to the towing vehicle, to the most desirable position.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A vehicle for removing wrecked vehicles from highways, ditches and the like and for hauling large bodies of various kinds, comprising an axle havinga wheel at each end thereof, a main body having its middle portion supported directly on the axle, an auxiliary body of greater length than the first mentioned body, said auxiliary body being supported on the main body for relativelongitudinal sliding movement, a draw bar member pivotally connected to the front part of the auxiliary body and adapted to be connected to a towing vehicle, detachable means for connecting the front end of the auxiliary body to an intermediate part of the draw bar member, and screw and nut means connecting the rear ends of the bodies together for moving the main body and the axle and Wheels, as a unit, longitudinally relative to the auxiliary body.

2. A vehicle for removing wrecked vehicles from highways, ditches and the like and for hauling large bodies of various kinds, comprising an axle having a wheel at each end thereof, a main body having its middle portion supported directly on the axle, an auxiliary body of greater length than the first mentioned body, said auxiliary body being supported on the main body for relative longitudinal sliding movement, a draw bar member pivotally connected to the front part of the auxiliary body and adapted to be connected to a towing vehicle, vertically arranged guide means at the front end of the auxiliary body through which a part of the draw bar member passes, removable means for holding the said draw bar member in adjusted position in said guide means, and screw and nut means connecting the rear ends of the bodies together for moving the main body and the axle and wheels, as a unit, longitudinally relative to the auxiliary body.

VERNON W. JOHNSON. 

